Valve mechanism



Sept. 5, 1933. w. E. PIKE 1,925,201

VALVE MEGHAN I SM Filed April 29, 1931 144E. IDIKEJ fig. Z INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE VALVE MECHANISM William E. Pike, Winston-Salem, N. 0. Application April 29, 1931. Serial No. 533,753 5 Claims. (01. 220-86) This invention relates to a valve structure adapted to be installed in a gasoline storage tank and the like in which the valve and the strainer can be removed from the tank without the neces- 5 sity of tearing up concrete and taking out the whole pump mechanism in order to clean the strainer or install a new valve and the like.

It is well known in the art that gasoline storage tanks for filling stations and the like have a valve located in a storage tank with a suction pipe leading therefrom to the dispensing tank, and it often happens that the strainer becomes clogged or the valve becomes unseated or corroded and requires attention and in structures heretofore used it is necessary to remove the entire valve mechanism from the tank in order to overcome these difiiculties. It is an object of this invention to provide a valve mechanism wherein the valve and the strainer can be removed from the mechanism without the necessity of removing any of the other parts or tearing up any concrete or other material located above the tank.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical view through a gasoline storage tank and showing my invention as applied thereto, the invention being shown on an enlarged scale with relation to the storage tank;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 in Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a gasoline storage tank which has in most instances, a layer of concrete ll thereabove forming a floor surface 12, and in this tank and concrete, I mount a pipe 13 with a connection as to 14 to which is connected suction 9 pipe 15, leading to a dispensing pump and the like. Pipe 13 extends into tank 10 and has threadably secured to the lower end thereof a valve housing 16 which is larger in cross sectional area than pipe 13 and this housing 16 has a valve seat portion 17 and a downwardly extending circular portion 18 which is open at the bottom.

I close the upper end of pipe 13 by a suitable cap 19 which, of course, is locked in position by any suitable locking means not shown. On the lower central portion of cap 19 there is a projection 20 which has a hole therein which is threaded to receive a pipe 21, and the lower end of this pipe extends into the valve housing 16 and has a plug 22 threadably secured in the lower end thereof, and slidably mounted in this plug 22 is a valve stem 23 which has an enlargement 24 on the upper end thereof to permit withdrawal of the valve stem when cap 19 is removed and pipe 21 -is taken out. Valve stem 23 has secured on the lower end thereof a valve 25 composed of rubber or any other suitable material, this valve being secured in position by means of a circular plate 26 on the lower side thereof, and a washer 27 on the upper side thereof, with valve stem 23 being threaded into plate 26 and a nut 28 being threadably secured on valve stem 23 above washer 27. Secured in position by means of plate 26 is a circular strainer 29 which extends downwardly into the portion 18, and this strainer is adapted to rise and fall with the valve 25 and to serve as a positive guide therefor to cause the valve to seat properly at all times.

It is thus seen that I have provided a valve structure in which the strainer is attached to the valve and rises and falls with the valve and means are secured to the valve and strainer whereby the valve and strainer may be removed from the tank without removing any other parts whatever of the mechanism, and this allows the strainer to be removed and cleaned as often as required, and also allows a new valve to be inserted if necessary. It is well known that strainers become clogged quite frequently and have to be renewed or cleaned and by this structure, it is possible to remove the strainer and clean the same or to make any other adjustments which may be necessary.

In the drawing and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A valve structure for storage tanks and the like, comprising a pipe extending into the storage I tank, a valve housing secured to the pipe, a valve seat in said housing, a cap for closing the upper end of said pipe, a member mounted in said pipe .100 and extending from near the upper end of said pipe into the valve housing, a valve stem slidably and removably secured in the lower end of said member, a valve on the lower end of said valve stem adapted to seat on said valve seat, the upper 105 end of the valve stem having an enlargement thereon, and a strainer secured to the lower side of the valve, the enlargement on the valve stem being adapted to be engaged by the lower end of said member to raise the valve off its seat and 110 carry the valve with said member when said memher is removed from the pipe.

2. In a valve structure for gasoline storage tanks and the like, a pipe extending into the tank, a cap for said pipe, a valve housing secured to the lower end of said pipe, a member extending from the upper end of said pipe into said valve housing, a valve stem slidably mounted in the lower end of said member, a valve on one end of said valve stem and an enlargement on the other end of said valve stem, the valve being adapted to seat in said valve housing and a strainer secured to the lower side of said valve, the enlargement serving to limit the downward movement of the valve stem with relation to said member whereby the valve, valve stem and member can'be removed from the pipe independently of the valve seat.

3. In a valve structure for storage tanks and the like, a valve housing having a valve seat, a pipe leading from said valve housing to the exterior of the tank, a cap for said pipe, a member secured to the lower side of said cap and extending into the valve housing, a valve slidably and removably secured to the lower end of said member and a strainer secured to the lower side of said valve.

4. A storage tank having a pipe extending thereinto, with a valve housing secured on the lower end of said pipe, said valve housing having a valve seat therein, a closure for the upper end of said pipe, means extending from said closure into said valve housing, a valve slidably and removably mounted in said means and a strainer 'removed'point to a point in close proximity to .said valve seat, a valve stem slidably mounted in said member and having a valve on one end adapted to rest by gravity on said seat and a head on the upper end of said valve stem whereby the stem and valve and said member can be removed simultaneously from said pipe.

WILLIAM E. PIKE. 

